NBN Co sets rollout schedule for next seven Tassie towns

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 28 April 2011 10:39

NBN Co has released of the planned NBN rollout in the next seven towns in Tasmania - Deloraine, Kingston Beach, George Town, Sorell, South Hobart, St Helens and Triabunna, some 11,000 homes in total.

Premises not covered by fibre will have access to either wireless or satellite services, with an interim satellite service due to be available from July this year and wireless by the middle of next year.

The announcement follows the finalisation of a contract between NBN Co and construction company Conneq Infrastructure Services, the new name of the company formerly known as Bilfinger Berger, and which is part of the Lend Lease group alongside Abigroup and Baulderstone.

NBN Co has also announced the construction start dates, saying it has set "a rolling schedule that makes the most efficient use of the workforce given the geographic spread of the locations." Work kicks off in Triabunna and Sorell in late May, followed by Deloraine and St Helens, Kingston Beach, George Town and South Hobart.

NBN Co acting head of construction, Dan Flemming, said: "NBN Co has chosen a staged network construction approach as it allows us to incorporate learnings from previous work in a process of continuous improvement."

NBN Co said: "Planning approvals for the initial sites have already been achieved, so Aurora will start make-ready works in early May in these sites in preparation for the fibre rollout. Construction in each location is expected to take from approximately four to six months depending on the size of the site, with services planned to be available for installation in the second half of next year.

Maps of the fibre footprint coverage in the seven towns are available from the NBN Tasmania website www.nbntasmania.com.au.